Welcome to Lent
Since very ancient times, Christians of all ages and places have observed the season of Lent. Throughout that long history, it has always been a time for spiritual renewal in anticipation of the great feast of Easter, the center of the church’s year. The baptismal covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in baptism is for the sake of the whole world.
Our worship includes prayers, songs, readings, and a message. You can worship by viewing the videos, reading the words, singing the songs, or simply listening. Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we worship together.
announcements & Call to Worship
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God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, in this season of Lent, help us to listen to your voice as you bring us together, on these screens, united by your spirit. In this time and in the coming days, give us provision for the journey, courage and faith and compassion, and endurance to face any hardship. Open our eyes to see you walking beside us, protecting us, encouraging us, loving us. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Opening Song
Kyrie
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In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.
Hymn of Praise
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray. O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you give us life. Grant us so to live in the love of the cross in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Reading
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
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1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
Children’s Moment
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Gospel and Message
Mark 8:31-38
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31[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Hymn of the Day
Lead Me To The Cross
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Saviour I come quiet my soul Remember redemption’s hill Where Your blood was spilled For my ransom
Ev’rything I once held dear I count it all as loss
Lead me to the cross Where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down Rid me of myself I belong to You Oh lead me lead me to the cross
You were as I tempted and tried human The word became flesh Bore my sin in death Now You’re risen
Ev’rything I once held dear I count it all as loss
Lead me to the cross Where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down Rid me of myself I belong to You Oh lead me lead me to the cross
To Your heart To Your heart Lead me to Your heart Lead me to Your heart
Lead me to the cross Where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down Rid me of myself I belong to You Oh lead me lead me
Lead me to the cross Where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down Rid me of myself I belong to You Oh lead me lead me to the cross
Thanksgiving for the Word: Lent
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Holy God, our living Water, our faithful Companion, our true Guide, by your Word you created a world with rivers and seas, wells and springs, and in mercy you provided water for your people in the wilderness. For your Word with the water of baptism, we thank you, O God.
We praise you for Christ, who joined us in our desert, calling us to righteousness, granting forgiveness, and walking with us into newness of life. For Jesus, your gracious Word, we glorify you, O God.
Through these days of Lent we plead for your Spirit, that strengthened by your Word, we may care for others and for the world you made, and work for justice and peace for all. For your Word in our hearts and minds, we praise you, O God.
Receive our thanksgiving, and grant us your blessing, Holy God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers
Held together in one body by the Spirit of Christ, let us pray for the church and the world, and all who are in need.
God of mercy and might, bless your church throughout the world. Uphold those believers who suffer for the sake of your gospel. Strengthen the faith of all the baptized, and make your presence felt by those unable to assemble for worship. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bless the earth. Save the animals and their habitats from wild and uncontrolled weather. Teach humanity to live respectful of nature and to join you in tending to creation’s well-being. We ask you to smile also on Mars. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bless the nations of the world. Raise up advocates for peace and justice within and between nations. Give life where hope seems dead; call into existence new realities we cannot even imagine. Grant to our leaders the wisdom and the will to improve the lives of all our residents. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bless all who suffer in body, mind, and spirit. We beg that you bring an end to the pandemic. Restore medical systems, and comfort all who are sick or dying. Lead us out of the practices of discrimination. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bless families: those in our community, those waiting at national borders, those whose struggles are known only to you. Keep children safe; sustain expectant parents and those facing infertility; protect women in childbirth. Accompany everyone who lives alone. Equip the ministries and services of church and state that attend to families in their needs. Lord, hear our prayer.
Praises to you, O God, for centuries of saints whose faithfulness inspires our Lenten journey. Bless those who mourn the half million dead of the virus. Be our way, our truth, our life, and strengthen our faith in the gift of your final salvation. Lord, hear our prayer.
We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works, chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor. God bless you that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
Worship Assistants
Music: Lori, Danielle, Darcy
Message: Pastor Kristin
Reader: Dawn
Children’s Moment: Lori
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted and streamed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS002432. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted and streamed with permission. CCLI#1162147.